Hydromechanical press



Dec. 17, 1940. w. KLOCKE 2,224,968

HYDROMECHANICAL PRESS Filed May 14, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l /J I l5 I -67 J6 v 3 INVENTOR.

.57 I WILL/HM /r4oclr Dec. l7, 1940. w. KLOCKE HYDROMECHANICAL 'PRESS FilQd May. 14, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I l INVENTOR. /9 we? IV/LL/HM K40 c/rs Patented Dec. 17, i 1 n UNITED STATES PATENT OFF CE HYDROMECHANICAL PRESS William Klockc, Woodhaven, N. Y. I

Application May 14, 1935, Serial No. 21,322

' 1o Claims. (01. 100-70) This invention relates to hydromechanical Referring to said drawings, numeral l desigpresses. nates the frame of. a press, comprising the side The invention provides presses in which the members and I2, a bed l3 and a crown Hexhydraulic principle of operating a tool-carrying tending across the press from side to side. In

5 reciprocatory slide may be effectively applied to the type of frame shown, the bed and crown I3 5 the actuation'of elongated slides (length much and I4 and the side members II and [2 are tied greaterthan width), and to the actuation of. together by the usuartie-rods l5. 7 slides on which the reactions during the work Numeral I'I designates a reciprocatory slide. which is performed by the forming parts, are As is well understood, the forming tools of the 10 unsymmetrical, as for example where such repress are mounted on the bed l3 and slide ll, 10

actions are of greatest magnitude at one corner The slides II, as herein shown, are of large or i of t id area. The slides of large presses are also usually The invention provides presses in which the elongated, as here-shown, the length of the slides hydraulic principle may be' effectively applied from side to side of the press, being considerably to the actuation of reciprceatory slides, in such greater than the width of the slide from front to 15 manner that the driving force is applied to the rear of the press. In large presses the span or slide at four points (similar to the application of distance between the side frames amounts to the driving force to the slides of large mechanical fourteen feet and more. In presses where thepresses), and also in such manner that the slide area of the slide is large, and especially in eloncannot cant under the effects of unsymmetrical gated slides, the greatest resistance ofiered by 20 I work-reactions. the forming tools which are mounted on the bed The invention further provides presses emand slide, during the formingoperation, is in bodylng the hydraulic principle, in which the many instances unsymmetrical with relation to reciprocatory slide has a definite bottom-of-thethe major and minor-axes of the slide, the point stroke position, beyond which the force developed or location of the greatest resistance often being within hydraulic motors cannot be exerted beat one side or at one corner of the slide. tween the crown and b d. and th m sam In presses having slides of large area, the slide thereby protected from the damaging effects of is usually actuated by a crank-shaft running excessive pressure built up in or by the hydraulic across the press'from side to side which is conmotors nected to the slide by connecting or pitmanrods 30.

The invention further enables presses to be at each side of the minor axis of the slide. Lately built of a size equalling and exceeding that of large presses have been built with two crank the largest mechanical presses, and operating shafts running from side to side .of the press and with equal or greater speed than such mechanical having connections to the slide on either side of presses, at a considerable saving of cost. the minor axis of the slide and also on either side 35 The invention further provides a. press emof the major axis of the slide. With such presses bodying a plurality of hydraulic motors having having two crank-shafts running from side to reciprocating pistons for driving a reciprocating side of the press, the mechanism becomes comslide having the advantages and improvement of plicated, crowds the space at the top of the press,

0 an equalized action of the several pistons on the necessitates the employment of heavier crowns, 4o slide. and adds very considerably to the cost of the Two embodiments of the invention are illuspress. The four point connection of the actrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: tuating means to the slide however has the ada Fig. 1 is a view in elevation (with certain parts vantage that the tendency of the slide to cant 5 in section) of a press according to one embodiwhen the resistance which is transmitted to the ment of the invention, the press *being viewed slide by the forming tools is unsymmetrical, is

from the front. counteracted.

Fig. 2 is a transversesectional view ,on the line According to the present invention, hydrome- 2-2, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the archanical means 20 (20' Figs. 3 and 4) are prorows. vided for actuating (reciprocating) the slide I1. 50

Fig.3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a second The hydromechanical' means comprises a pinembodiment. rality of hydraulic motors together with mechan- Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on the line ical means for equalizing the action of the by- 4-4, Fig.3, looking in the direction of the ardraulic motors in imparting movement to' the rows. I I slide, and the slide actuating mechanism c'om- 55 either side of two axes of the slide adjacent the four corners thereof.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, numerals 22 and 23 designate two-hydraulic motors. The hydraulic motors preferably each comprises a hydraulic piston and a cylinder. In the form of embodiment shown the structure is simplified, two pistons 25 and 26, working in a common cylinder' 28 being provided. The pistons 25, 25 are opposed pistons and reciprocate in each end or side of the cylinder 28 in opposite directions. The

hydraulic motors 22, 23 are preferably mounted on the crown of the press, as indicated at 38, between the side members II and I2, and the arrangement is such that the force of the pistons acts crosswise of the press, parallel to the crown l4, and the crown H in this form of embodiment is constructed primarily as a tension element, rather than a compression element or arch. The pistons 25, 26 each have rods 3i, which extend through stufiing boxes 33 at the ends of the cylinders or cylinder 28.

Driving connections 35, 3'! are provided between the slide l1 and each of the piston-rods 3 I. The driving connections 36, 31 each preferably comprises a rock-shaft 40, extending across the press from front to rear, a lever arm 42, crosshead 44, a link 45 connecting the lever arm 42 and cross-head 44, and toggles connecting the rock-shaft 40 and slide l1. Four of these toggles 50, 5|, 52, 53 are preferably provided, the toggles consisting of lever arms 55, from the ends of each of the rock-shafts 48, and links 51, connected to each of the four lever arms 55. The four links 51 are also preferably connected to the heads of four adjustable screws 59 preferably located at the four corners of the slide H. The piston-rods 3l, may .be directly connected to each of the cross-heads 44, as here shown. The slide I1 is guided in its movements by gibs 60.

Each of the rock-shafts 40 is preferably located adjacent the respective side members I I, i 2 of the frame, and bearingsfil for said rock-shafts 40 are provided on the crown adjacent the ends of the crown and near the tie-rods I5. With the bearings 6i thus located, the movement between the axes of the rock-shafts 40 and the center lines of the tie rods l5-is short, and the reaction of the toggles, 50, 5|, 52, 53 on the bearings 51 of the rock-shafts 40 under the action of the forming tools, is transmitted almost directly-to the tie-rods l5, and there is only a relatively slight strain produced in that part of the crown l4 between the bearings SI of the rock-shafts 40 at each side of the press.

Guides 53, for each of the cross heads 44 may be provided. These guides may each rest at one' ance the 'weight 'of the piston, thereby avoiding unequal wear onthe faces of'the cylinders.

rlumeral 10 designates the mechanical means which are provided hereby for equalizing the action of the hydraulic motors inimparting move ment to the slide II. In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the aforesaid equalizing means 10 is partly combined with the structure of the driving connections 38, 31. The equalizing means HI comprises connections between driving parts of the hydraulic motors and a common movable part capable of symmetrically receiving and transmitting driving force. In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, numeral 13 designates a common movable part in the form of a disc mounted to turn on a pin 15 projected from a fixed part of the press, as from a boss 11 on the underside of the cylinder 28, which cylinder as heretofore described is mounted on the crown M as indicated at 30. Each of the cross heads 44, to which the piston rods 3| of-each of the pistons 25, 26 are connected may be connected to the common part 13, as by means of links 80, 8 I The links 80, 8! may each be connected to a pin 83 projecting from each of the cross heads, and to pins 85, 88 respectively, projecting from the common movable part 13.

When the pistons 25, 28 are driven apart, as by the admission of fluid under pressure through a port 88 to that,"part"of the cylinder 28 in front of the pistons, the cross heads 44 are likewise driven apart, rocking each of the shafts 40, and causing the arms of each of the toggles 50, 5|, 52 and 53 to move'into alinement, thereby driving the slide I'I toward the bed. As the arms of the toggles approach alinement, the driving force of the pistons 25, 28 is very greatly augmented through the mechanical advantage obtained through the action of the toggles. By the mechanical principles here embodied, a very powerful driving force may be applied to the slide I! by the pistons of the hydraulic motors, acting through the toggles 50, 5|, 52 and 53, and

, much less powerful hydraulic motors may be employed than would be the case if the force of the hydraulic motors were not augmented for driving the slide actuating means than by the use of mechanical means for actuating the slide.

The present combination of the hydraulic motors with the toggles has moreover a safety factor of very great value and importance. The toggles provide a definite limit to the bottom-of-thestroke position of the slide. If the hydraulic motors should continue 'to drive the driving connections 36, after the slide has reached its bottom-of-the-stroke position, the force of the.

hydraulic motors will not be further exerted against the bed of the press (with the building up of stress between the slide and bed and with consequent-strain on the frame) but such continued driving of the hydraulic motors would force the toggles out of alinement reversally, and thereby relieve the stress between the slide and bed, in the same manner that the stress would be relieved by the reverse action of the hydraulic motors in raising the slide on the return stroke of the slide in normal operation.

The return stroke of the slide I1 is effected by the mechanism described, on venting i luid through the port 89 and admitting fluid under pressure to the cylinders at the rear of the pistons.

Liquids, such as water or oil are usually employed for operating the hydraulic motors, but gaseous fluids such as-air or steam could also be used. 7

If, on the working stroke, the forming tools mounted on the bed I3 and slide II encounter resistance by the work or material which is undergoing formation, which is greater on one side (with respect to either axis of the slide) than on the other, any tendency of the hydraulic motor acting on that side of the slide which encounters less resistance, to force that side ahead (cant the slide), is prevented by the equalizing means 10. Any tendency of one of the hydraulic motors, as for example, the hydraulic motor 23,

to force the side of the slide H with which it is connected ahead of the side connected with the 'hydraulic'motor 22, is checked, because any force tending to drive the piston 26 ahead of the piston 25'is immediately imparted to the piston 25 through the cross head 44 is connected to the piston 26', the link BI and the common part or disc I3; and the turning of the common part I3 transmits to the piston 25 a force equal tothat transmitted to it (common part 13) by the piston 26, such force being transmitted symmetrically through the link 80 and cross head 44 to which the piston 25 is connected. Throughsaid equalizing means10, therefore, the movement of the slide IT on each side, and also the movement of the pistons 25; 26 by which each side of the slide I1 is driven, are equalized, and the slide '1 pre-' vented from canting notwithstanding that the forming operation which is performed between the tools carried by the slide and the bed of the press may not be symmetrical, and in fact may be very unsymmetrical and concentrated at a side or corner of the press. With the four toggle connections shown, any tendency of the slide to cant at one corner is counteracted in the respective rock-shaft 40. That is, the toggle arms at and the driving force transmitted from each hydraulic motor is imparted to the rock-shaft 40 and symmetrically applied by the rock-shaft tothe toggles at its two ends. I

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, numerals I00, IOI, I02 and I03 designate a plurality of four hydraulic motors. The hydraulic motors prefera lv each comprises a piston I05 and a cylinder I06. each of the pistons I05 has a piston rod I08 which extends outwardly through a stufling box, and is' connected to the slide 'I'I by a suitable attachment as indicated at H0. The piston rods, in this embodiment of the invention are directly attached to the slide. The four hydraulic motors I-I03. as here shown, are mounted on the crown I4 of the press, and preferably adjacent the side members II, I2 of the frame. on either side of the major and minor axes of the crown, and likewise with respect to the slide IT, in such manner that the four piston rods I00arecon-- thereof. Gibs IIO may be provided for supplementing the piston rods I08 for guiding the reciprocating movement of the slide.

The mechanical means 10' for equalizing the action of the hydraulic motors in imparting movement to the slide II, in this embodiment of the invention, comprises a common movable part II5 in the form of a rock-shaft II having oppositely extending arms H1, H8 thereon, and a linkage or connections between said arms H1, H8 and the slide II at four points or locations .on the slide closely, adjacent the places or locations where the four piston rods I08 are connected to the slide II. The linkage is of such a character that it is capable of receiving and transmitting driving force from the hydraulic motors. As here shown, the aforesaid linkage comprises a pair .of rock-shafts I20, I2I, the rock shait I20 being connected to the arm I" of the common turning part II5 by an arm I23 and a link I24-. Similarly the rock-shaft I2I is connected to the other arm H0 of the common turning part II5 by anarm I26 and a link I21. The rock-shaft I20 has a pair of arms I30, I3I thereon at each end, which arms are connected by links I33, I34 to the slide II at points or locations adjacent the points or locations where the piston rods I08 of the hydraulic motors I02, I03 are connected. Similarly, the rock-shaft I2I has arms I40, I4l at each end-thereof, which arms are connected to the slide I! at points or locations adjacent the points or locations where th pis'ton-rods I08 of the hydraulic motors I00, IOI are connected to the slide H, by links I43, I44.

The common turning part H5 and the rock shafts I I2I are conveniently journalled in a bracket 50 and may be fastened upon the underside of the crown I4.

When fluid under pressure is admitted to the cylinders of the four hydraulic motors I00-I03, in front of thepistons, the pistons are driven downwardly and move the slide I7 downwardly on its working stroke. The slide I'I moves evenly.

because if there should be a tendency of any of tending to run ahead, through the mechanical.

symmetrically-acting equalizing means. I0, to the pistons of the other hydraulic motors, the tendency counteracted and the action of the.pis-, tons equalize in imparting movement to the slide. The ac ion of the four hydraulic motors I00-I03 in imparting movement'to the slide will be likewise equalized when the slide encounters an unsymmetrical resistance to its movement, as for example where the resistance to the action of the forming tools which are carried by the bed I3 and slide I1 is greatest at a point corre- 1 sponding to one side, or. one corner of the slide IT. For example, if the piston of the motor I00 should tend to move ahead of the pistons of the other motors IOI-I03, the piston of the said motor I00 would transmit driving force tothe-rockshaft m through the link In and arm no, the

driving force of the motor I00, thereby being transmitted to the piston of the motor IIlI through the rock-shaft, arm HI and link I44; the driving force of the motor I00 which-is tending to run ahead of the others, would also be transmitted to the pistons of the motors I02, I03 through arm I25 on the rock-shaft I2I, the link I21, the common turning part H5, and through the common turningpart to the link I24, and arm I 23 on rock shaft I20, and from the arms I30, I3I on the rock shaft I20, to the links I33, I34 which are connected to the slide at points or locations adjacent the points of con-v nectiontothe slide of the piston rods ofthe motors I02, I03. 'In a similar manner the tendency of any of the other hydraulic motors torun ahead would be counteracted and the action of all of the motors on the slide equalized.

The invention may receive other embodiments than those herein specifically illustrated and described.

What is claimed is:

1. A press comprising a frame and a toolcarrying slide having a width and breadth such as would make it appreciably tiltable on its 1ongitudinal and transverse axes. and means for reciprocating said slide and for guiding it in a straight-line; said slide reciprocating means comprising hydraulic motor-means mounted on said frame and having all together at least two movable driving parts, and driving connections between said slide at four corners, and said movable driving parts of said hydraulic motor means; said driving connections from each of said movable driving parts of saidhydraulic motor means being independent of those of the other; membersextending from the driving connections, and mechanical means forequallzing the action of the movable driving parts of said hydraulic motor means, at the four corners of said slide, in imparting movement to said slide, in such manner that the slide at its four corners is maintained in substantially level planes throughout the slide movement, said mechanical equalizing means comprising a rotatable part, a part on which it turns fixed on the frame, and corresponding operating connections including links of equal effective length attached at one end thereof to said rotatable part at diametrically opposite points at equal distances from the center of the rotatable part, the opposite ends of said links being connected to said members at points in a straight line including the center of said rotatable part at one position in the operation of the press.

2. A press comprising a frame and a toolv carrying slide, and means for reciprocating said slide and for guiding it in a straight line; said slide reciprocating means comprising a pair of rock-shafts, toggles connecting said rock-shafts and slide at opposite sides, hydraulic motor means mounted on said frame and having at least two movable driving parts, and driving connections between the movable driving parts of said hydraulic motor means and said rock-shafts, said driving connections from each of said movable driving parts of said hydraulic motor means being independent of those of the other; and symmetrical mechanical means for equalizing the movements of said rock-shafts.

3. A press comprising a fr"me and a toolcarrying slide, and means for reciprocating said slide and for guiding it in a straight line; said slide reciprocating means comprising a pair of rock-shafts, toggles connecting said rock-shafts andslide at opposite sides, hydraulic motor means mounted on said frame and having oppositely acting driving parts arranged transversely of the press between said rock-shafts, driving connections between the driving parts of said hydraulic motor means and rock-shafts, said driving connections from each of said movable driving parts of said hydraulic motor means being independent of those of the other; and symmetrical mechanical means for equalizing the movements of the said driving parts of said hydraulic motor means and rock-shafts.

4. A press according to claim 3, wherein said frame comprises side-members and a crossmeinber or crown, said hydraulic motor means being supported by said crown and said crown having transversely spaced bearings for said rock-shafts and which crown sustains in tension the driving force of the movable parts of said hydraulic motor means.

5. A press comprising a frame and a toolcarrying slide, and means for reciprocating said slide and for guiding it in a straight-line; said slide reciprocating means comprising a pair of rock-shafts, toggles connecting said rock-shafts and slide at opposite sides, hydraulic motor means mounted on said frame and having oppositely acting driving parts arranged transversely of the press between said rock-shafts, cross-heads, to which the driving parts of said hydraulic motor means are connected, and driving connections between said cross-headsand rock-shafts, said driving connections from each of said movable driving parts of said hydraulic motor means being independent of those of the other.

6. A press comprising a frame and a toolcarrying slide, and means for reciprocating said slide and for guiding it in a straight-line;-said slide reciprocating means comprising a pair of rock-shafts, tog les connecting said rock-shafts and slide at opposite sides, hydraulic motor means mounted on said frame and having oppositely acting driving parts arranged transversely of the press between said rock-shafts, cross-heads to which the driving parts of said motor means are connected, and driving connections between said cross-heads and rock-shafts, said driving connections from each of said movable driving parts of said hydraulic motor means being independent of those of the other; members extending from the driving connections and mechanical means for equalizing the movements of the driving parts of said hydraulic motor means, said mechanical equalizing means comprising a rotatable part, a part on which it turns fixed on the frame and corresponding operating connections including links of equal length attached at one end to said rotatable part at diametrically opposite points at equal distances from the center of the rotatable part, the opposite ends of said links being connected to said members at points in a straight line including the center of said rotatable part at one position in the operation of the press.

7. A press comprising a frame, a tool-carrying slide, and means for reciprocating said slide and for guiding it in a straight-line; said frame com prising side tension-members and a cross-tension-member or crown, said slide reciprocating means comprising a pair of rock-shafts mounted closely adjacent said side tension members, toggles connecting said rock-shafts and slide at e;- posite sides, hydraulic motor means. supported by said crown between said rock-shafts and having oppositely acting driving parts parallel to the crown, and drivingconnections between the driving parts of said hydraulic motor means and rock-shafts. I I

8. A press comprising a frame and a toolcarrying slide having a width and breadth such as would make it appreciably tiltable on its longitudinal and transvere axes. means for guiding said slide in a straight-line, means for reciprocating said slide comprising hydraulic motor means mounted on said frame and having at least two 'movable driving parts capable, in the absence of equalizing means, of independent action on opposite sides of said slide, and mechanical means for equalizing the action of the driving parts of said hydraulic motor'means while the latter is imparting movement to said slide in such manner that the slide at its four corners is maintained in substantially level planes throughout the slide movement, said mechanical equalizing means comprising a pair of rock-shafts, a pair of spaced arms on each of said rock-shafts, links connecting said arms to said slide at four places, adjacent the four corners of the slide, a common movable part, another arm on each of said rockshafts, a pivotal support on said frame on which said common movable part turns, and corresponding operating connections including links of equal effective length attached at one end thereof to said common movable part at diametrically opposite points at equal distances from the center thereof, the opposite ends of said connections between the hydraulic motor means and the slide are rods on the movable parts of the hydraulic motor means attached to the slide.

10. A press according to claim 8, in which four hydraulic motors are employed and in which theconnections between the motors and slide are rods on the movable parts of the hydraulic m0- tcrs attached to the slide adjacent its four corners.

WILLIAM KLOCKE. 

